We. have. one. car.
My husband has a work truck. That leaves one car between my three adult children and me. One of my children has a full time job. 30. minutes. away. Another, caddies and has to leave for work at 6:40. a.m. The third, is involved in so many church activities, it makes. my. head. spin.
Here’s where I come in. I am the taxi mom. Between the cost of gas and the alarming cost of car insurance for the boys, we have opted to save up for another family car, rather than encouraging the boys to each get their own set of wheels, especially since they need to save as much money as possible to help pay for college. Thus, I drive. all. day.
One day, I decided to take on a new perspective. If it weren’t for my temporary taxi service, I would never see my sons. Now that the time is near for a new vehicle, I am sorry to see this Simple Pleasure and Hidden Treasure pass away.
There are seasons in our parenting lives. There are the days of play dates and homemade baby food. The days of chasing after toddlers and plastic containers of Cheerios. The days of being snack mom at Little League Baseball. The end of my responsibility as taxi mom is one more milestone, and perhaps one of the final milestones of a stay-at-home mom. Driving them to their destination.
How long will I be able to listen to a Hillsong CD and worship God in the car with my daughter? When will I again have an hour a day to talk to my sons, with no distractions? Perhaps never. In fact, it’s more likely that I’ll be hoping for a ten minute phone call once a week, or Heaven forbid once a month, from them as their lives march on toward the destination of their own choosing. Or even better God’s choosing.
Perhaps many simple pleasures are hidden in routine, or inconvenience.
Maybe by driving them to their daily destination I have an opportunity to drive them to the desired Final Destination, the destination of their destiny.
Thanks to A Collection of This And That for the Simple Pleasures Project…and for the picture!
Simple Pleasures Project @ A Collection of This And That
journeytoepiphany.wordpress.com 
This is a wonderful post. Our attitude is everything. If we weren’t taxiing we may not see our kids as much. And what a wonderful opportunity to talk (if it’s a decently long drive). I loved this.
Blessings, Debbie
Our attitude and motives are everything. It’s funny how something can go from annoying to anointed just from a change in attitude.
From one mom taxi to another so true. This is so strange I was just thinking about this the other day. My daughter will be starting high school in the fall and can actually start taking drivers ed this fall due to she will be turning 15 in Oct. I was just thinking that one day soon I will not be taxi mom any more she will be driving her own car (Thank you OMA)….but she told me you know what MOM I am not ready to drive I still want you to be my taxi for a little while longer… made me cry…but soon she will be driving her self around but you know what taxi mom will always be around anytime she needs me…one day she will be my taxi daughter..
Awww. That’s sweet! Hey…you wouldn’t be available to come to John’s grad party Saturday would you?
I would love to come… let me know the time and you address and I will def be there… Is your mom coming up this weekend???
That’s a nice perspective on being the taxi mom. It makes me appreciate my time with my little fellas even more 🙂
It was either get a good attitude, or write about Taxing Mom….:}
“There are seasons in our parenting lives.”
So very well said and a beautiful reminder to all us parents out here.
Wonderful insightful post.
Thanks.
You are so welcome. Thanks for stopping by, and for your beautiful pictures of Yosemite, or was it Yellowstone?
I’m a pretty terrible driver.
Horrible, really.
It’s getting a bit embarrassing.
🙂
Remind me not to let you drive my children anywhere…
I love how you took something that appeared to be negative and saw it instead as a positive. It is good to count our blessings and be thankful.
It’s all in our perspective!! Thanks for coming by and commenting.
Wonderful, thought provoking post!
Thanks thirdhand! Glad you dropped by.
Ah yes … the days of being the taxi driver. I remember them well. I only had one daughter and, as you have, discovered it was a special time, carting her here and there. I wrote a chapter about it in one of my books, “Driving Miss Anna.” Turned out to be one of my favorite seasons.
So glad you linked up toay.
I’ll have to read that soon. Thanks for stopping by, and for hosting the simple pleasures linkup.
It’s always good to look at the bright side of things, the unexpected treasures we often take for granted.
There are so many of them, aren’t there?
I am thankful you recognize the blessings of being Taxi Mom in the moment. Often we do not see how precious each season is until it passes.
I have missed many a season, I am sure…Thanks for visiting..your new post is great!
This is so true. We were in one car for a long time while our sons’ parents were gifting them with brand new vehicles at 16. I was so thankful for our driving time together. Aside from necessity, how often would four boys — ages 16, 13, 10, and 7 — ride to and from school with Mom? It was awesome.
Drive on, Taxi Mom!
Thanks Laura! Sometimes what we look upon as lack is really great fortune!
Lots of wisdom in your post. I remember being Taxi Mom. It’s a short season, as they all are. Blessings to you, Taxi Mom…
I long to recognize the beauty of each season as I experience it rather than after the fact.
I love your shift in perspective! It’s wonderful how things and events take on brand new meaning when viewed through a different “window.” Most definitely this provides you with wonderful time with your grown children. I find myself struggling to make my now 19 year old find time to spend with us. Once they’re grown it’s like you have to call ahead and make an appointment! 🙂
Just sneak out to the driveway late and night and disconnect a few wires in his car…hee hee…
Seriously, this is a great way for me to make lemonade out of my current driving schedule.
Yes I agree with you. I also enjoyed the time when my son was learning to drive and needed extra practice. And my musical education has been developed wonderfully by their tastes! Sometimes a chat can happen in the privacy of the car. thanks for the reminder!
It has become my secret mentoring time. They have no idea of my plans to influence them… mwahahahaha evil sinister laugh here.
A wonderful message! The thing about those simple plesures and hidden treasures are that we tend to overlook them at the time. It is great that you have recognized these and obvviously will cherish them.
It was only after exclaiming, “You know I have a life too!” that I changed my perspective…oh well…better late than never…
Wow, what a great outlook! I’m going to remember this the next time my butt morphs into the shape of my car seat and I am unable to straighten from my hunched over driving position! I drive A LOT too and I needed this post to readjust my butt morphing, hunch back of Notre Dame outlook…thanks!
Beth
Hahaha! Your butt does that too? Maybe we should start a colony…kind of like a leper colony, except a morphed butt colony…
Does it ever!!! Somedays a cheek actually goes numb and I have to adjust my position!
So I just have to tell you that during my 2hr ( thanks to road construction and heavy traffic!!!!) car-taxi time Friday I smiled as I remembered this post and the kids and I talked. My road rage was kept in check and we had a great time!
Morphed butt colony member,
Beth
This is the greatest blog compliment I’ve ever had…someone thought about something I wrote and it helped them through their day. Wow! How humbling. Thanks so much for letting me know. Here’s to no numb-butts!
Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a ‘footprint’ in my comment box. Lovely to share this Simple Pleasures day with you!
I’m not a taxi mom… but I do drive myself around a lot of places. My in-car time is often the time I love to chat with the Lord about any and everything that goes through my mind as I’m waiting for lights to change and cars to move through yet another construction site. It’s amazing the conversations we’ll have.
Wishing you lots more glimpses of heaven in unexpected places……..
I like that…glimpses of heaven in unexpected places…beautiful. Thanks for coming by…
Love the photo of the beautiful flowers. I can remember the days, when I was a taxi mom- “Where does the time go-it seems like it was yesterday !! 🙂 It’s the simple things in life that can bring a multitude of happiness in our life.
It is the simple pleasures that make life bearable…I can’t take credit for the flowers, they were from A Collection of This and That. Every Thursday she hosts a project called Simple Pleasures. You should check it out some time. 😀 Thanks for visiting.
I had a mentoring teacher ahead of me in raising children. She told me exactly what you have expressed in your post. She told me to have something to talk about driving to all those destinations. So I heeded her words…it was a different kind of lesson plan…asking questions, listening, asking more questions, commenting, gratefully not having eye contact during some awkward moments. Great memories. They’re 25 and 30 now.
i love the part about the eye contact. That is sooooo true. If I have something “hard” to talk about with one of my kids, I try to plan it around a taxi time. Great comment! Thanks!!
What a lovely post. Each stage of life has it’s wonderful moments, I can appreciate how you feel about this change…children grow up so fast, it happens right before our eyes and we hardly notice. I love your flower arrangement; the Cleome’s are amazing. Thank you for visiting me and leaving such a nice comment.
Each stage is lovely. I can’t take credit for the flowers, they are from A Collection of This and That. She hosts a simple pleasures linkathon on Thursdays…Thank you for your kind words…hope to see you again!
What are those tall stems with purple blossoms? The arrangement is pretty, did you grow them? I’m glad you had an “attitude adjustment” in time to savor the moments you have with your offspring as a captive audience. 🙂
Patti:
The flowers are from my hostess in the simple pleasures project over at A Collection of This And That. Thanks for your kind words…
It’s all in how you look at things, right? It’s a beautiful thing to look at this as a time to spend with your children, rather than be inconvenienced by them. Bravo.
God is good at jerking the slack out of me…
“Perhaps many simple pleasures are hidden in routine, or inconvenience.” Profound statement.
When you speak of the destination of your sons’ own choosing, or even better, God’s own choosing, my heart said a simple ‘amen.” I homeschooled all of my children, and now I have one daughter (16) still with me.
My prayer (and will you agree with me in prayer for this?) is that God will direct her path and lead her to her Final Destination.
“Journey Towards Epiphany” is a beautiful place to be.
~ Many blessings
Thanks for thinking that this is a beautiful place to be. I will be praying for you…Will you pray for me as well…Thanks for stopping by, my homeschooling friend.
An awesome post that challenges us at a deep level at the same time as making us laugh. How do you do that?! I totally concur that everything is for a season (and just made this comment to MuMuGB who is upto the wazoo in kids and taxiing and work and no Olympic tickets to boot.) There were days I felt like I met myself coming back! Now I’m alone and it’s a completely different scenario. You’re choosing to enjoy your children and to make the best of things while you can and for this I heartily applaud you. Keep writing!
Thanks Elizabeth. I always enjoy your poetry…it’s a window not only to your soul, but helps the reader understand a bit of themselves too.
Great Post..time marches on and things change right before your eyes. Sometimes we don’t really appreciate what we have until that phase is gone and we are into another. By purposing to look at the positive instead of the negative we change our thinking for the better. All of my children are gone and are still keeping God first in their lives. They all work with my husband and I in ministry and we are close to the grandchildren. The blessing is that my husband and I have found each other again in a great way as we still enjoy our children and their husband and wives and their babies. We love how they are so positive and give their all in whatever ministry we undertake. Take it from me each season has its good and bad and right now I’m loving the good and learning from the bad.
Revla
You are very blessed of God. What a wonderful testimony to have your family working in His kingdom together. You have been a fruitful vine. God is good!
Dearest friend, a great post indeed. And REALLY great use of .’s !! Made me laugh and be repentant over begrudging stages and cycles. Xo you have quite a following! Congrats!
Hello! You have taken a challenging situation and turned it around, looking at all the good in it. If only we all could do that in every situations, it would be so wonderful.
Thank you so much for your sweet visit and comment on my blog recently. Susan
You are so welcome…I love reading blogs! It would be nice if we could train ourselves to look at the positive in each situation. I know I couldn’t even think about doing it without God’s help. 😀
What a beautiful post. I love your reference to parenting seasons. It’s so true. Your change of perspective is wonderful and an inspiration. My college freshman just flunked out. So disappointing, for him and for his father and me. But, selfishly, I think the time we spend together as he gets his head screwed on will be good for everyone. I just can’t put a finger on what season I’m in, except that it’s a stormy one at times! 😉
Thanks for reading my recent post! It’s great to “meet” you.
AA
Amiable:
I’m sure God will give you wisdom on how to help your son during your “stormy” time…
Wonderful post … And someday, when all the kids are gone and you’re wondering what to do with your time, you’re accomplishments as a mom will bring a smile, then you’ll go about your day.
I believe that the greatest accomplishment for any human being is to somehow reproduce that best inside of you inside the life of another. Life Investment… 😀 Thanks for reading and commenting! Still working on the Santo project…Hey, would you like to work on it together?
Journey,
Here’s an idea. You work on yours … I create an All-Time Ron’s … and we publish them at the same time with a mention & link to the other’s post. What do you think?
Perfect! You’re a genius!
This post touched a chord 🙂 That’s what it’s all about isn’t it? Changing perspective…when you find the right one, everything makes sense. I love how you made the choice coz so often we forget, it’s a choice we can make. I’m in search of a new perspective right now for myself…something that will help me make sense (if that’s what you can call it) of my father’s dementia. It’s tough though…
I’m in the toddler stage right now and enjoying how much my son needs and worships me 🙂 He’s also my biggest stress-buster! My Taxi-Mom days will start soon!
Warm Regards, Harsha.
It is all about perspective. Almost any situation can be viewed as positive if one changes their perspective. Thanks for coming by and commenting. I really appreciate it.
Some great food for thought! I like how you just made lemonade out of being in the car all day. You are right, if there is one thing for certain, it is that everything changes. We have to use that time in the car for positive things. This too shall pass!
Isn’t it funny how we always romanticize times past? We are always talking about the good old days, and yet if we could hear what we were talking about during the good old days, we might be surprised at how much we were complaining!!
I remeber those days of driving the kids around on their many activities… at the time it was a “oh, no not another activity” now they are some of my best memories. Thank you for reminding me…
Take Care…
I feel like a schizophrenic at times because sometimes I’ll remember to keep the good attitude and others I’ll exclaim, “But I’ve been on the road for 4 hours today!”
Oh, my gosh, and I complain about driving to dance once a week.
Lately, I’ve really been struggling with my “I have to attitude” and trying to turn that into an “I get to” attitude. It’s so funny because this is the third post I’ve read with a similar theme. Apparently, I need to hear this message!
Thanks.
I must need to hear about dead bunnies, because I’ve read three blogs about them today…. 😦
Just goes to show — there is something to be grateful for in everything and every season…
Like in Desert Song, “All of my life, in every season, You are still God, I have a reason to sing, I have a reason to worship.” 😀
No rush on the idea … we’ll just keep in touch, then determine the publish date.
Will do…
I have been a taxi mom for awhile now. And like you, I needed to see the blessings behind all the driving. I took the opportunity to talk to them, to connect.
This season will end so quickly – I choose to see the gift behind the wheel.
I love “I choose to see the gift behind the wheel”….Nice! I like your blog, too!
Love this. Thanks for the great perspective on seasons in motherhood.
Thank you for stopping by…I’m looking forward to reading your blog!
What a beautiful way to look at it. I’m entering a new season, too. As painful as it is, I know God has just as great of things in the fall of my life as in the summer.
Blessings,
Pamela
In the natural, I love the change of seasons. I wish I could transfer that over to my life…
I so agree that each parenting season is a gift. Our kids are adults and now they come and drive me around, when I don’t feel up to finding a new place in Chicago. So fun.
Fondly,
Glenda
How wonderful, one thinks of the ‘Good Samaritan’ and the enjoyment of togetherness. Since my eyesight deterioration has prevented my driving, I have had to rely upon local transport and good friends who will assist me on a journey.
May I also say how beautiful the photo of God’s creation within nature and the colours to enhance any home. Blessings to you all this Friday.